Annular Solar Eclipse

• 21 Jul 2020

• An annular solar eclipse occurred on June 21, 2020. This was the first solar eclipse of 2020. It was visible in parts of north India. The rest of the country, however, could observe a partial eclipse.
• A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the Sun and the Earth. There are three types of solar eclipses – total, partial and annular.
• In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon.
• In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured.
• In an annular solar eclipse, the Moon covers the Sun from the centre. This leaves the outer rim of the Sun perceptible.
• The phenomenon is popularly known as the ‘ring of fire.'